Fennel and Miscarriage

by Sara
(Toronto, Canada)

I had a miscarriage at the sixth week of my pregnancy. Therefore, I stopped trying to conceive for four months. After that, I tried again to get pregnant for two months and unfortunately my blood pregnancy tests were both negative.

Recently, I got a blood test and I found that my prolactin hormone is high (62ng/ml). My doctor asked me to eat 1 table spoon fennel powder mixed with yogurt daily to reduce my prolactin and to fix my irregular periods.

My question from you is: should I stop trying to conceive while I am eating fennel powder? If I try to conceive at the same time of using fennel, does it cause miscarriage or is it safe?

Many thanks in advance for your help,

Best regards,

Sara

ANSWER:

Hi Sara,

Fennel has a mild estrogenic effect and it acts like the female sex hormone estrogen.

Fennel is not contro-indicated while trying to conceive if taken during the first half of the mentrual cycle. Once ovulation has occurred, high dodes of fennel may prevent implantation and can cause uterine contraction.

During pregnancy,fennel seeds are safe in small amounts (for example when added to your mealsor if you drink fennel tea for upset stomach), but pregnant women should avoid medicinal amounts of this herb because it can cause miscarriage.

High doses of fennel stimulate the uterus into contraction, causing blood loss and possibly pregnancy loss.

After delivery, fennel facilitatse menstruation and cleanses the uterus. It laso increases milk production in nursing mothers.

My advice would be to avoid trying to get pregnant while taking fennel in medicinal doses and only taking it up until ovulation.

All the best!

Maria Gioia

Comments for Fennel and Miscarriage

I am now 32 years old. I have no baby and I also ate large amount of fennel when I was in 8th std. Now I continue that. I have one question regarding fennel(badisop): I am not pregnant yet and I have started my tretment with gyanic.

What is the effect of estrogen which is present in fennel on my body?

ANSWER

Hi Sushma,

Fennel has very mild strogenic effects on the body and is not so much of a concern because the estrogenic effects of fennel are not symilar to those of synthetic xenoestrogen which pose ore serious side effects.

In some women fennel estrogenic may cause breast enlargement and it is used for nursing mothers to stimulate breat flow.

According to many herbalists,phytoestrogens present in plants cause a balancing effect on your hormone levels.

The reason why plant estrogen are talked about a lot is because they bind to estrogen receptor sites in your body. By doing so they compete with the natural estrogen hormone molecules your body produces normally.

Phytoestrogens are present in many plants recommended to women who suffer from either too much estrogen production like PMS or to women who produce too little estrogen, like during peri menopause

Plant estrogens have a balancing action helping produce more estrogen during peri menopause and decrease too much estrogen during PMS.

If you are planning a pregnancy, drinking 1 or 2 cups of fennel regularly should be fine.

I hope this answers your question.

Many Blessings!

Breast Producing Milkby: Sanchita

Hi I am 29 years old and married from 4 months. I eat large amount of fennel seeds every day, Recently I noticed that my breast is producing milk though I am not pregnant however trying to conceive. Also my breast has enlarged. Is it due to more consumption of Fennel seeds please suggest what needs to be done?

Thank you in Advance

Answer:

Hi Sanchita,

Fennel seeds contain flavonoids and are known to help increase breast size becaus eit stimulates breast tissue due to its estrogenic effects.

In herbal medicine Fennel seed is used to help women increase low milk supply. So, there is for sure a connection between breast milk production and Fennel seed.

In your case, we really do not know because you are not pregnant. Consider stopping taking fennel seed and talk to your doctor to have your prolactin levels tested.

In non-pregnant women milk discharge from the breast is often associated to increased production of the hormone prolactin. The levels of this hormone can be easily tested and your doctor will be able to explain more if your levels turn out to be elevated.

Comments are posted only after approval. For medical related questions, please talk to your health care practitioner. I will not answer questions on conventional fertility medications. If you are taking any prescription drugs for fertility talk to your doctor. With this website my job is to educate and support you in learning more about natural therapies that can help boost your fertility and prepare for a healthy pregnancy. Please do not submit medical tests or results. If you have questions on your fertility or medical results talk to your doctor. Those questions will not be answered.